July 01, 2012

Seven Rangers (maybe eight) will be on All-Star team

Josh Hamilton received more than 11 million votes in fan balloting for the All-Start Game, and was one of a club-record seven Rangers selected to the American League team for the July 10 game at Kansas City.

The Rangers have a chance for an eighth player, if Yu Darvish receives the most online clicks on the Final Vote ballot. Fans have until Thursday to vote for Darvish at www.texasrangers.com. Fans can also vote for Darvish by texting VOTE to 89269 to receive the ballot and then reply with A2.

Two other Rangers -- catcher Mike Napoli and third baseman Adrian Beltre -- will join Hamilton in the starting lineup at Kauffman Stadium. Second baseman Ian Kinsler was selected in voting by AL players, managers and coaches, and Washington used manager's choices on left-hander Matt Harrison, closer Joe Nathan and shortstop Elvis Andrus.

The commentators involved on the TBS selection show attempted to rib Washington for selecting three Rangers and having seven overall. Washington, though, doesn't seem the least bit worried about any criticisms that could be sent his way.

"They weren't choices I made for them being on my team," Washington said. "They were choices because they deserved to be on the team. I don't think that the Texas Rangers need to apologize for having great players."

The Rangers entered Sunday with the best record in the major leagues at 50-29, and they had a 6 1/2-game lead over Anaheim in the AL West.

Hamilton is an All-Star starter for the fifth time. He received 11,073,744 votes to smash the previous record of 7,454,753 set by Jose Bautista in 2011. Nathan will also be making his five All-Star appearance; Beltre and Kinsler are now three-time All-Stars; Andrus is a two-time All-Star; and Harrison is making his All-Star debut.

Washington also used a manager's choice on Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson, who spent the first seven years of his career with the Rangers.